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London

Quite an unusual record from this hip London combo of the 60s – every bit as compelling as their Beatles album, but in a very different way! As the title implies, most songs are from Elizabethan sources – but they're played with an open, modal sort of groove – the more sensitive, lyrical side of the London jazz scene in the 60s – often mixing these brilliant acoustic basslines with light drums, piano, and flute – all to create a fluid groove with plenty of jazz, even when the core sources of the music are quite ancient! Given the light instrumentation, things are quite different from other jazz/classical experiments of the 60s – very far from the cliches you might expect. Titles include "Rondeau", "The Old Spagnoletta", "Flow My Tears", "Orientis", "Roundelay", "The Earle Of Salisbury", and "Green Grows The Holly". LP, Vinyl record album

This session shouldn't work, but it does – and beautifully! By all means, an album that includes Diz, Art Blakey, Monk, and Sonny Stitt playing together should be a first-rate snoozer, with hackneyed performances of common-denominator material that they can all get their hooks around – but instead, it's an amazing bit of work that has all players hitting some of their best moments of the 70's! Diz has that great deep 70's funk sound in his trumpet, Stitt's solos are razor sharp, and Blakey's drums have a good snap to them, and were recorded extremely well, despite the fact that this was a live session. All tracks are long, and the record includes great versions of "Tin Tin Deo", "Night In Tunisia", "Allen's Alley", "Blue Monk", "Woody N You", and "Tour De Force". LP, Vinyl record album

Deep-voiced trombone from the great Tyree Glenn – a player with a wonderfully expressive sound that he borrowed from the trad jazz era, but made swing in a more modern setting on records like these! Glenn really runs the gamut of phrasing on his horn – in a way that maybe makes him a surprising bridge between early trombonists in jazz and some of the later improvisers of the 70s – although Tyree definitely sticks to playing the changes here. And the changes are mighty nice – never overdone, but served up with a gently swinging groove by a group that includes Hank Jones on piano, Mary Osborn on guitar, and Shorty Baker on trumpet. Titles include "Learn To Croon", "Waycross Walk", "Some Other Spring", "Lonesome Road", "On The Alamo", and "By & When Morning Comes". CD

Hip 70s work from Stan Kenton – 2 albums recorded live in the UK in 1972, both of them in the best modern style he was using at the time! As with some of Kenton's other excellent 70s sessions, the players on the records are lesser-known than on his classic sets – but all are extremely well-suited to the Kenton groove, and are younger players that have a free-thinking approach that makes for some great solo work. Tracks are all relatively long, and have a rhythmic pulse that's really great – not really electric, but clearly informed at times by the use of electric instrumentation in bigger bands at the time. Titles include "Malaga", "Artistry In Percussion", "Chiapas", "Bogota", "Fringe Benefits", "Walk Softly", and "Ambivalence". CD

A lively band of young British players, packed into a large group with a tight swinging sound that evokes some of the better continental bands of the sort at the time – like the Clarke-Boland Ensemble, the Johnny Dankworth group, and even bits of Mike Westbrook's early work. The set list is a nice group of lesser-known titles – like "Who-Wray?", "Full House", "Spaghetti Junction", "Marianne", "Eleven Plus", and "Legs Eleven". Orchestra directed by Bill Ashton, and the set was recorded at London Weekend Television in 1975. And if it sounds drippy, give it a chance – as there's more than a few nice cuts here that feel like they're lifted off a compliation like Jazz Biznezz, or some of those other hip European sets! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest moments ever from pianist Sadik Hakim – a player most people know for his contribution to the American bop scene of the late 40s – but an artist who grew even more strongly during his later years in Montreal! This album's a real highlight from that overlooked time in Hakim's career – a set that not only has the musician playing both Fender Rhodes and acoustic piano, but which also highlights his tremendous skill as a writer, too – with a richness that easily rivals the best on the European scene of the time – such as some of our favorite London jazz musicians, or the great on MPS. Side one features the extended "London Suite" – a work that's poetic, but also pretty darn groovy too – and side two features on shorter compositions that include "Liliane", "Grey Cup Caper", and "Moon In Aquarius" – all carried off beautifully by a group that includes Al Khabyyr Sayyd Abdul on alto and flute, Billy Robinson on tenor, and Peter Leitch on guitar. LP, Vinyl record album

Makaya McCraven pushes his unique jazz genius even further – by serving up a completely groundbreaking remix of live jazz performance on the London scene! McCraven's already stood out from the pack in the way that he breaks down jazz norms by playing with a recorded performance later in the studio – but this time around, he really pushes that approach to the forefront – working in a mode that really lives up to the "mixtape" of the title – but which also still has everything that we love from his other records too! Makaya's on drums – and plays with a massively heavy groove – and he plays here with some of the leading lights of the contemporary London scene – Soweto Kinch and Nubya Garcia on saxes, Joe Armon Jones on Fender Rhodes, Kamaal Williams on keyboards, and Theon Cross on tuba – in amazing performance activity which is then brought home to Chicago, where the music gets additional remix and overdub help from LeFto, Don Leisure, Earl Jeffers, Ben LaMar Gay, Emma Jean Thackray, Quiet Dawn, and Lexus Blondin. Clearly, Makaya's one hell of a collaborative spirit – yet he also manages to make this record his boldest personal statement to date – as you'll hear on titles that include "Halls", "Suite For Artis Gilmore", "Ox Tales", "The Bounce", "Oracle", "Run Dem", "Too Shy", and "Drums & Bruk & Feel The Vibe". CD

Makaya McCraven pushes his unique jazz genius even further – by serving up a completely groundbreaking remix of live jazz performance on the London scene! McCraven's already stood out from the pack in the way that he breaks down jazz norms by playing with a recorded performance later in the studio – but this time around, he really pushes that approach to the forefront – working in a mode that really lives up to the "mixtape" of the title – but which also still has everything that we love from his other records too! Makaya's on drums – and plays with a massively heavy groove – and he plays here with some of the leading lights of the contemporary London scene – Soweto Kinch and Nubya Garcia on saxes, Joe Armon Jones on Fender Rhodes, Kamaal Williams on keyboards, and Theon Cross on tuba – in amazing performance activity which is then brought home to Chicago, where the music gets additional remix and overdub help from LeFto, Don Leisure, Earl Jeffers, Ben LaMar Gay, Emma Jean Thackray, Quiet Dawn, and Lexus Blondin. Clearly, Makaya's one hell of a collaborative spirit – yet he also manages to make this record his boldest personal statement to date – as you'll hear on titles that include "Halls", "Suite For Artis Gilmore", "Ox Tales", "The Bounce", "Oracle", "Run Dem", "Too Shy", and "Drums & Bruk & Feel The Vibe". LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite albums ever by Sarah Vaughan – and a really jazz-based session that's totally hip! Sarah's working here live at the legendary London House nightclub in Chicago – singing with a small combo that includes Ronnell Bright on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums – augmented by some great horn work from Thad Jones on trumpet and Frank Wess on tenor. The set's got a relaxed jazzy feel that's really a welcome departure from some of Sarah's more over-arranged albums from the time – and the interplay between the vocals and the horns is easy, relaxed, and very well placed throughout – a perfect summation of the subtle Vaughan genius, but one that's rarely ever captured this well on record! Titles include "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "Detour Ahead", "I'll String Along With You", "Three Little Words", "Speak Low", and "All Of You". (Vocalists, Jazz)LP, Vinyl record album

A really revelatory collection – a set of vintage recordings from the Jewish community in London's East End – songs with sounds that resonate very strongly with the musical sound of New York's Lower East Side during the same stretch of time! There's definitely some of the jazz promised in the title, and plenty of klezmer-styled instrumentation – but many tracks are vocal, and a fair bit also move into Yiddish comedy modes, which is A-OK with us – kind of a London variation on modes you might know from Mickey Katz and some of his contemporaries, especially on the postwar tracks, which dominate the set. The package has a great set of notes, and titles include "Beigels" by Max Bacon, "Tzena Tzena Tzena" by Johnny Franks & His Kosher Ragtimers, "A Letter To My Mother" by Lew Stone & The Monseigneur Band, "Selection Of Hebrew Dances No 1" by Ambrose & His Orchestra, "Festival Of Britain" and "Whitechapel" by Chaim Towber with Johnny Franks Orchestra, and "Petticoat Lane" by The Plaza Band – plus "Jews Temporary Shelter 75th Anniversary Appeal", from a rare 1960 flexidisc! (Global Grooves, Jazz)CD

A really revelatory collection – a set of vintage recordings from the Jewish community in London's East End – songs with sounds that resonate very strongly with the musical sound of New York's Lower East Side during the same stretch of time! There's definitely some of the jazz promised in the title, and plenty of klezmer-styled instrumentation – but many tracks are vocal, and a fair bit also move into Yiddish comedy modes, which is A-OK with us – kind of a London variation on modes you might know from Mickey Katz and some of his contemporaries, especially on the postwar tracks, which dominate the set. The package has a great set of notes, and titles include "Beigels" by Max Bacon, "Tzena Tzena Tzena" by Johnny Franks & His Kosher Ragtimers, "A Letter To My Mother" by Lew Stone & The Monseigneur Band, "Selection Of Hebrew Dances No 1" by Ambrose & His Orchestra, "Festival Of Britain" and "Whitechapel" by Chaim Towber with Johnny Franks Orchestra, and "Petticoat Lane" by The Plaza Band – plus "Jews Temporary Shelter 75th Anniversary Appeal", from a rare 1960 flexidisc! (Global Grooves, Jazz)LP, Vinyl record album

A really great collection of work that sets the scene for the London Underground of the 60s – that heady cultural scene that was about to burst forth and shower the world with a huge range of new music that would influence listeners for decades to come! This package isn't that music – in that most of the artists here are American, mixed with contributions from a few key Brit talents too – and the whole thing works together to showcase the sorts of sounds that were a bit inspiration on the generation that would then inspire many others to come – a mad mix of modern jazz, electronic music, avant classical, groovy vocal, and even some compelling beat/poetry recordings too – all packaged together in an overstuffed 3CD set that makes for a hell of a journey in music! Artists include Ornette Coleman, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Charles Mingus, Daphne Oram, Modern Jazz Quartet, Aldous Huxley, Cecil Taylor, John Cage, Eric Dolphy, Annie Ross, Sun Ra, Gyorgy Ligeti, Allen Ginsberg, Jimmy Smith, Luciano Berio, John Coltrane, Chico Hamilton, Alexis Korner, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Albert Ayler, Joe Harriott, and many others. CD

The coolest record so far from this totally great combo – a live recording done on the home turf of the Greg Foat Group – the Playboy Club in London! The retro venue really fits the slinky, sexy vibe of the group's music – and although we already loved these guys before, this album has a really special sort of feel – with loads of wonderful keyboard lines from Greg on Hohner Electra piano, Elka Rhapsody, Hammond L 100, and Mutron Phaser – almost always distorted with a nice degree of fuzz, but still a straight ahead approach, and some great undercurrents of fuzz too! The group also features tenor and trumpet – which sometimes sound distorted, ala Varitone modes – and the overall sound feels like some lost jazzy club combo from the late 60s, really tripping out in a very comfortable space. We'd easily stack this one next to our favorite funky Fender Rhodes records from back in the day – and titles include "By The Grace Of God I Am", "Ingen Reklam", "Funky Fanfare", "Madrid", and "Mr Minor". CD features two bonus tracks – "Finky Minky" and "Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag". CD

One of the really beautiful 70s albums from the duo of Charles Austin and Joe Gallivan – the former on soprano, tenor, and flute – the latter on moog! The mix of moog and reeds is great – and other players include Kenny Wheeler and Ian Hamer on trumpets, Nick Evans on trombone, Ronnie Scott on tenor, Elton dean on alto, and Roy Babbington on bass. LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous early recording from David Murray – recorded in London (as you'd guess by the title), but with all the best spirit of his early loft jazz sides! There's a tightness here that's missing from some of Murray's other albums of the period – a sense of soulful, spiritual swing that only seems to make the album open up even more, and which allows for some incredibly rhythmic solo work from Murray. We love this one to death, and would easily rank it as one of our favorite David Murray recordings ever – and would also say that the album's noteworthy for some great work from Butch Morris on cornet and Curtis Clark on piano – working in a quintet with Brian Smith on bass and Clifford Jarvis on drums. Titles include "Jas Van", "Secret Of The Circle", "Murray's Steps", and "Cancion De Amor En Espanol". LP, Vinyl record album

Crackling live energy from Buddy Rich – recorded at Ronnie Scott's nightclub in London, and with a sound that recalls some of Buddy's best from the 60s! The group is plenty great – and the attraction here goes way beyond just Buddy's famous work as a leader. As with other Rich albums from the time, the album features some really searing solo work from Pat LaBarbera – clearly the second star of the set, and really bringing a lot to the session on tenor, flute, and soprano sax! Arrangements are by John LaBarbera, Mike Gibbs, and others – all very hip talents who keep things compelling throughout – and titles include "The Word", "Dancing Men", "St Mark's Square", "That's Enough", "Little Train", and "Tim Being". CD

A mid 60s groover from Brit jazzman Johnny Scott – a date that's done with largeish charts, but a great sense of rhythm throughout! The players include Ian Hamer and Ray Davies on trumpets, Ronnie Ross and Duncan Lamont on saxes, John Marson on harp, Don Lusher on trombone, and Alan Branscombe on piano – and the tunes offer up a cascading mix of large charts and individual instrumental voices, occasionally filled in by a bit of strings. Titles include "London By Night", "Greek Street Soho", "Let's All Go Down To The Strand", "Chelsea Bridge", and "Knocked Em In The Old Kent Road". LP, Vinyl record album

(Cover has light wear and some splitting on the bottom seam – but vinyl is great.)

Jazzy musings, lots of weird instrumental touches, and players who include Tony Coe on tenor, Pete King on flute and alto, Henry Lowther on trumpet, Frank Rocotti on congas, and Rubert Hine on Arp! (Rock, Jazz)LP, Vinyl record album

(US stereo pressing. Cover has light wear. Vinyl has a short click on "L'Auberce Du Sanglier".)

Erroll Garner gets a great added boost here – thanks to Jose Mangual Jr, who plays congas on this great date from 1971! The presence of Mangual's congas make the album sound a bit like some of the George Shearing Amigos albums on MPS – a sound that still echoes the older modes of the players, but which has a slightly more contemporary groove – one that's almost slightly funky at points. The whole thing is key proof that, even when he wasn't at the top of the jazz charts, Erroll Garner could still deliver the goods – in a way that takes his already-rhythmic style of piano work into a whole new generation! Titles include "Eldorado", "Something", "Gemini", "How High The Moon", "It Could Happen To You", and "These Foolish Things". CD

A fantastic second set from keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones – a musician we first came to love in the UK-based Ezra Collective, and one who's now effortlessly bridging a space between jazz and soul! The record's got a vibe that's as cosmic as its cover – but one that comes not just through creative keyboard work, but from a great overall conception of the songs – so that Joe's music flows out with a warm style that embraces our ears, then takes us on a journey to the heavens! This isn't the usual keyboard jazz, with references heavy on the past – as Armon-Jones is as forward-thinking as his best contemporaries on the London scene. The set features great guest vocals from Georgia Anne Muldrow on the tune "Yellow Dandelion" – and other guest appearances by Nubya Garcia, Jehst, and Obongjayar – on titles that include "Try Walk With Me", "Gnawa Sweet", "Icy Roads", "To Know Where You're Coming From", "The Leo & The Aquarius", and "Self Love". CD

One of the greatest albums ever by studio genius David Axelrod! The album's one of Axelrod's first on his own – cut for Capitol Records at a time when he was working with some of the label's biggest selling soul acts – like Cannonball Adderley and Lou Rawls – turning their already-successful sounds into super-hit material by adding some nice funky touches, and excellent baroque production. This album lets Axelrod fully explore his talents for larger studio arrangements, and complex yet soulful instrumentation. The record is subtitled "an anthology of awareness after birth, based on the 18th century poems of William Blake" – and it features incredible arrangements conducted by Don Randi, played by a host of excellent LA jazz and studio players. The overall sound is spacey and dark, with nice touches of funk, and plenty of cool instrumental passages that have been sampled over the years by hip hoppers and other producers. Titles include "London", "The Fly", "The Human Abstract", "A Divine Image", and "The Sick Rose". CD

One of the greatest albums ever by studio genius David Axelrod! The album's one of Axelrod's first on his own – cut for Capitol Records at a time when he was working with some of the label's biggest selling soul acts – like Cannonball Adderley and Lou Rawls – turning their already-successful sounds into super-hit material by adding some nice funky touches, and excellent baroque production. This album lets Axelrod fully explore his talents for larger studio arrangements and complex yet soulful instrumentation. The record is subtitled "an anthology of awareness after birth, based on the 18th century poems of William Blake" – and it features incredible arrangements conducted by Don Randi, played by a host of excellent LA jazz and studio players. The overall sound is spacey and dark, with nice touches of funk, and plenty of cool instrumental passages that have been sampled over the years by hip hoppers and other producers. Titles include "London", "The Fly", "The Human Abstract", "A Divine Image", and "The Sick Rose". Reissued with the original gatefold cover and everything! LP, Vinyl record album

An underground classic from the London scene – a record that was hugely important to us in the early days of Dusty Groove, and which is still completely tremendous all these many years later! At the time, the album was the sort of ambitious undertaking that nobody else would have done – pre-Cinematic Orchestra, pre-Nostalgia 77, pre-any of those other groups that were inspired by vintage soundtracks, David Axelrod, and all sorts of higher ideas in groovy music! Chris Bowden is a saxophonist at the core – and a jazz-based one too – but he works here with these incredible arrangements of his own creation, folding in both funky and fulfilling elements – heavy drums, percussion, and keyboards – but also some great string passages, and even surprisingly strong use of clarinet at times – creating these snakey elements that offset his own soulful lead. The album was a landmark at the time – even if it was missed by most of the planet – and it's still tremendously powerful throughout – with titles that include "Forbidden Fruit", "Natural Selection", "Deaf Out", "Telescopic Three", "Sane", "Angel Falls", "Solo", "Love Lies Bleeding", "Epsilon", and "Time Capsule". (New Grooves, Jazz)CD

A hell of a record from drummer Moses Boyd – a musician who's fast becoming way more than a drummer! Here, Boyd is in the same "jazz plus" territory of Makaya McCraven – still strongly respectful of his lineage in the music, but also trying very hard to push the whole thing forward, and open up to new sounds and new ears – all in ways that are never commercial or crossover at all! Moses is clearly becoming a force on the London scene to match the collaborative genius of Makaya in Chicago – and although there's no personnel listed on the set, we can hear some fantastic work on saxes, keyboards, and vocals – which are handled by both male and female singers. And although Boyd drums on the set, he's clearly working more as a larger producer/arranger – one who isn't afraid to throw in a few beats from time to time – on titles that include "Yoyo", "Shades Of You", "Stranger Than Fiction", "BTB", "Far Gone", "Nommos Descent", and "What Now". LP, Vinyl record album

Bassist Daniel Casimir really wowed us with his last set for the Jazz Refreshed label – but this time around he teams up with vocalist Tess Hirst, and creates a sound that really blows us away from the very first note! The music is future-thinking jazz at the core, but has lots of complexity along the way – changes in tone and rhythm that never lose the groove too much, but which also show that you can do lots more in jazz than just straight swing or free improvisation! Robert Mitchell provides lots of Fender Rhodes and other keys – and while the vocals of Hirst don't dominate the tracks, she provides a righteous message that really gives the record a lot of direction and power. Another fantastic gem from the contemporary London scene – with titles that include "Don't Let Them", "Magic Money Tree", "What Did I Do", "Representation", "These Days", "Security", "They Come Over Here", and "Uncle James". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the moodiest, most introspective groups to emerge from the London scene in the past few years – a group headed up by Tamar Osborn, who blows flute, clarinet, and baritone sax – in addition to handling a lot of the basslines on the set – in this balance between the reeds and bass that gives the whole record a really brooding, slow-burning intensity! Other players include Josephine Davies on tenor, Mike Lesirge on tenor and alto flute, Suman Joshi on bass, Marco Piccioni on guitar, and Maurizio Ravalico on percussion – and the album often hangs in these currents of reed energy building slowly with direction from the bass, and maybe some softer colors from the other instrumentation – which makes for a very meditative vibe throughout. Titles include "Pause", "Continuation", "Lost & Found", "Deep Peace", and "The Angry One". CD

One of the moodiest, most introspective groups to emerge from the London scene in the past few years – a group headed up by Tamar Osborn, who blows flute, clarinet, and baritone sax – in addition to handling a lot of the basslines on the set – in this balance between the reeds and bass that gives the whole record a really brooding, slow-burning intensity! Other players include Josephine Davies on tenor, Mike Lesirge on tenor and alto flute, Suman Joshi on bass, Marco Piccioni on guitar, and Maurizio Ravalico on percussion – and the album often hangs in these currents of reed energy building slowly with direction from the bass, and maybe some softer colors from the other instrumentation – which makes for a very meditative vibe throughout. Titles include "Pause", "Continuation", "Lost & Found", "Deep Peace", and "The Angry One". LP, Vinyl record album

A brilliant blast from The Comet Is Coming – their second album on Impulse in less than a year – and it's as exciting as anything they've done so far! Their core vibe of mixing spiritual jazz with electronic experimentation is here in full force, but they take it new directions. While the trio carries the influences from 70s spacey fusion influences and modern London jazz on the other, it always feels fully unique and of their own invention. Part of what's so exciting is they can strip things down to minimalist vibe of melodic sax, spare drums and bubbling electronics to far-reaching jazz funk from one track to the next – this is trio with range! Poet Joshua Idehen delivers a righteous vocal on the opener "All That Matters Is The Moments" that sets the stage for the soaring ride that follows, including "The Softness Of The Present", "The Afterlife", "Lifeforce Part I", "Lifeforce Part II" and "The Seven Planetary Heavens". CD

The amazing first full length set of Comet Is Coming – one of the boldest statements from the London jazz scene in recent years – and a brilliant blend of live jazz instrumentation and electronics! Shabaka Hutchings – as King Shabaka – is in the group on tenor, which he blows with this strongly spiritual quality – really reaching out as this organic core amidst some of the spacier, noisier touches – all of which never get too far-out, and which are just balanced enough to effect the cosmic journey that's always been the group's promise! Drums are nice and heavy too, and the whole thing has this fantastic vibe that's as immediately appealing as it is completely unique – which you'll hear on tunes that include "Space Carnival", "The Prophecy", "Channel The Spirits", "Deep Within The Engine Deck", and "Journey Through The Asteroid Belt". As a bonus, the 2CD edition also features their debut Prophecy EP – plus unheard tracks titled Ancient Tapes – "Slammin", "Transmission", and "Closing Credits". CD

The amazing first full length set of Comet Is Coming – one of the boldest statements from the London jazz scene in recent years – and a brilliant blend of live jazz instrumentation and electronics! Shabaka Hutchings – as King Shabaka – is in the group on tenor, which he blows with this strongly spiritual quality – really reaching out as this organic core amidst some of the spacier, noisier touches – all of which never get too far-out, and which are just balanced enough to effect the cosmic journey that's always been the group's promise! Drums are nice and heavy too, and the whole thing has this fantastic vibe that's as immediately appealing as it is completely unique – which you'll hear on tunes that include "Space Carnival", "The Prophecy", "Channel The Spirits", "Deep Within The Engine Deck", and "Journey Through The Asteroid Belt". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic sounds from Comet Is Coming – a record as heady as you might guess from its cover image! These guys have a really revolutionary way of combining jazz and electronics –using the latter at a way that never sacrifices the former – especially when you've got such great drums at the core, and searing, spiritual tenor solos from King Shabaka over the top! This EP definitely has more beats and rhythms than some of their other records, but still has plenty of jazz at the core – and in a way, it's almost like Comet Is Coming finds a way to bridge the current London jazz generation with the decades-back club scene that was always claiming to be influenced by jazz, but never did things this well! Titles include "March Of The Rising Sun", "Ascension", "Start Running", and "Final Eclipse (full version)". LP, Vinyl record album

A prophetic blast of modern jazz from Comet Is Coming – one of the strongest and most original jazz trios from London or anywhere else in quite a while! There's a taut, propulsive bent to this early EP by the group that hints strongly at their soaring spiritual space jazz to come – making expansive use of a tight tenor sax, drums an brilliantly spacey synth and keys set up that hits hard and heavy while making it clear that the sky is no limit at all. Really strong stuff we're thrilled to finally have a hold on! Includes "Neon Baby", "Star Exploding In Slow Motion", "Do The Milky Way", 'Cosmic Serpent" and "Final Days Of The Apocalypse" LP, Vinyl record album

(Finally on vinyl in the US – limited edition and exclusive to indie stores. Includes download!)

A fantastic blend of spiritual jazz styles and electronic elements – served up here by the trio of drummer Betamax, keyboardist Danalogue, and saxophonist King Shabaka – the last of whom you might recognize as Shabaka Hutchings from a host of other hip projects on the contemporary London scene! Shabaka's work on tenor and bass clarinet really gives the record an earthy, organic core – which seems to let the keyboards really soar off into space, often with the sort of vibe that you'd guess from the group's name and the cover image on the record – in a wide flurry of live and amplified performance elements! At some level, the trio is almost London's answer to some of the jazz-meets-studio work from Chicago's International Anthem label – and like some of the groups who record for that imprint, these guys are all strong jazz musicians at the core – but performing at a level that's very beyond the ordinary. Titles include "Birth Of Creation", "Summon The Fire", "Blood Of The Past", "Astral Flying", "Super Zodiac", "The Universe Wakes Up", and "Timewave Zero". CD

Theon Cross plays a tuba, but don't hold that against him – as he's already given us some mighty great music in The Sons Of Kemet – and really steps out here as a leader in a core trio that features the great Moses Boyd on drums and Nubya Garcia on tenor! A few tracks features Wayne Francis stepping in instead of Garcia – but apart from one track that adds trombone, and two that add guitar – the core approach of the record is drums, tenor, and tuba – with Cross handling his instrument with the richness of an acoustic bass at times, and bursting out as a soloist at others! The tenor really gets a lot of play in the mix – and we totally love Nubya from her other work – and the album's a fantastic explosion of fresh power from the London scene. Titles include "Activate", "Candace Of Meroe", "Letting Go", "Radiation", "CIYA", "LDN's Burning", "Panda Village", and "The Offering". CD

A searing live set from London's Cykada – recorded in that city's hotbed of new jazz activity, the Total Refreshment Centre – which must have been really abuzz on the night of this show! The group's got a style that's relentless and constantly moving – rhythmic, but never in conventional ways – almost with a cyclical energy that has some elements folding back on themselves while others are moving forward – an approach that's even more mindblowing once the combo really picks up the pace! The Lineup features tenor, trumpet, guitar, electric bass, drums, and some very cool electronics – on titles that include "Third Eye Thunder", "Dimension Stepper", "Creation", "Ophelia's Message", and "Realise". CD

A slightly more serious affair from Brit jazzman Johnny Dankworth – and a set that points towards some of the soundtrack albums he'd cut in the 60s! There's a modern jazz-meets-classical feel here – as Dankworth's larger group of players is augmented by some fuller strings from the London Philharmonic – blended together surprisingly well, so that Johnny's hip modernists fall right into play with the orchestrations! Group members include Peter King on alto sax, Kenny Wheeler on trumpet, Tony Russell on trombone, Kenny Clare on drums, and Dudley Moore on piano – and titles include the extended compositions "Ebony Concerto" – which features guest work from Ronnie Ross on baritone and Jimmy Deuchar on trumpet – plus "Rendezvous" and "Improvisations For Jazz Band & Symphony Orchestra". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful solo sounds from Angel Bat Dawid – a Chicago clarinetist who works here with the same inventive spirit as the other contemporary artists on the International Anthem label! By that, we mean that although Angel's music starts in jazz, it quickly becomes something else – as she assembled the record not from a solitary solo performance, but by overdubbing sounds she'd recorded around the globe, and back home in Chicago – mixing her own very beautiful reed lines with a variety of other instrumentation – all recorded on cell phone, which gives the whole thing a wonderfully fresh feel! Don't worry about the album being too gimmicky, or too DIY – as it's got the same appeal as a studio-recorded spiritual session by a larger group – and there's plenty of focus on Dawid's incredible solos on her chosen instrument, with a vibe that's likely to have her rising to the level of clarinet giants like Jimmy Guiffre or John Carter. Titles include "Black Family", "Capetown", "The Oracle", "We Are Starzz", "London", and "What Shall I Tell My Children Who Are Black". CD

Beautiful solo sounds from Angel Bat Dawid – a Chicago clarinetist who works here with the same inventive spirit as the other contemporary artists on the International Anthem label! By that, we mean that although Angel's music starts in jazz, it quickly becomes something else – as she assembled the record not from a solitary solo performance, but by overdubbing sounds she'd recorded around the globe, and back home in Chicago – mixing her own very beautiful reed lines with a variety of other instrumentation – all recorded on cell phone, which gives the whole thing a wonderfully fresh feel! Don't worry about the album being too gimmicky, or too DIY – as it's got the same appeal as a studio-recorded spiritual session by a larger group – and there's plenty of focus on Dawid's incredible solos on her chosen instrument, with a vibe that's likely to have her rising to the level of clarinet giants like Jimmy Guiffre or John Carter. Titles include "Black Family", "Capetown", "The Oracle", "We Are Starzz", "London", and "What Shall I Tell My Children Who Are Black". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic set of jazz vocals by Blossom, recorded at Ronnie Scott's nightclub when she was living in London during the mid 60's. The set's got a nice intimate feel, and is one of Blossom's best-ever jazz recordings. The record has little of the cocktail sound that marred some of her other releases, and more of the swinging jazz piano and vocals that you find on her best work. Blossom's voice is as unique as always, and the set's got some great groovy numbers, like "I'm Hip", "Once Upon A Summertime", "When In Rome", and "The Shape Of Things". Very nice vibe, with a good live feel and lots of interaction with the audience. (Vocalists, Jazz)CD

Beautifully meditative music from Alabaster DePlume – a set that brings together work from a variety of recorded projects from the past decade or so – finally getting full exposure in this Transatlantic collaboration between Chicago's International Anthem label and London's Total Refreshment Centre! The sound is a great illustration of the genre-crossing modes that have been going on in both scenes – as Alabaster's music is definitely beyond easy description or definition, and comes across in a way that's as personal as it is collaborative – since DePlume works with a whole host of different musicians on the recordings, mixing flute, percussion, strings, keyboards, and other elements together in a way that follows a spiritual legacy from the more spacey side of Alice Coltrane, to the west coast experiments of Carlos Nino and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, to the changes taking place on the planet at present. Alabaster plays tenor and guitar, and vocalizes slightly – but never really sings – and titles include "Why Buzzardman Why", "Not My Ask", "Whisky Story Time", "If You're Sure You Want To", "What's Missing", and "Song Of The Foundling". CD

Maybe the best music so far from Emanative – a group who've been kicking around the London scene for the past decade or so, but who really seem to hit a new level with this album on Jazzman! The group's led by percussionist Nick Woodmansey, who often steps back to let all the other spiritual elements flow through the sound in a wonderful way – including excellent piano and organ from the great Jessica Lauren, plus reeds from Tamar Osborn and Ben Hadwen – both players who have a very cosmic approach – and haunting percussion from additional players, in addition to Nick's own work on drums, balafon, and other instruments. There's a very strong bassist in the lineup, too – Suman Joshi – and he directs the proceedings with great strength when everyone comes together – but also knows enough to step back when things are exploring different planes of global consciousness at a more personal level. Titles include "Spice Route Suite", "Egosystem", "New Day", "Heaven's Mirror", "Iyaami", "Raga Requiem", and "Minutes To Midnight For This Planet". CD

Beautiful keyboard lines from Phil France – served up here in a mode that's partly jazz, maybe partly more laidback – and often in the kind of slow-building style we love on other records on the Gondwana label! There's almost a meditative vibe to the music – somewhere in the Carlos Nino/Miguel Atwood-Ferguson mode, but maybe more compact – as Phil's keyboards are mixed with light use of violin and cello, plus some additional sound elements as well – all in a way that makes us almost think that France would be great at scoring soundtracks, although these instrumental tunes have a nicely changed-up sense of complexity overall. Much deeper than just the usual "soundscape" album you might mistake this one for – with tracks that include "December", "Animator", "London Park Hotel", "Kubrick", "Joy Of Brass", and "The Swimmer". CD

A lost Hammond classic – from organist Mick Weaver, who famously worked with the group Traffic! This set's a lot different than the work he did in that band, though – as the album's all instrumental, and has a quick-stepping, all-soul sound that's a lot like the best Jimmy McGriff organ jazz albums on Sue Records – mixed with maybe a bit of the mod sound of London at the time! Tunes are tight and short, but pack plenty of punch – and the album also features great work on saxes from Chris Mercer and Dick Heckstall-Smith. Titles include "Green Door", "Bad Eye", "Willie & The Hand Jive", "House That Jack Built", "Gasoline Alley", and "Harpsichord Shuffle". LP, Vinyl record album

The great Charles Gayle at his best – really opening up with a freewheeling vibe in this long, live improvised performance from London's Cafe OTO! The double-length set presents both performances from the evening – both non-stop improvisations, with John Edwards on bass and Mark Sanders on drums – and Gayle never failing to amaze us with that deeply raspy tone he can get from the tenor, alongside more work on piano and alto sax! Charles has this soulfulness that links right back to his earliest sounds on record – this spiritual cry that's completely mesmerizing, and which often has a lot more personal quality than some of his contemporaries – especially over the years, when Gayle still seems to be putting his all into a performance like this! CD

Excellent! This record is one of the lost chapters in the career of the great British alto player Joe Harriott. The session was recorded before Joe's experimental "Abstract" release, and way before his "Indo Jazz Fusions" experiments – but it's still an excellent session of off-kilter bop that shows what a keen talent Joe was on the alto. He's playing here in the company of the great Shake Keane – another fellow West Indian expatriot who was living in London – along with Coleridge Goode, Harry South, and Bobby Orr. The session was probably released in the UK, but this US issue is the only time we ever seem to see it – and we've hardly ever seen it before! Tracks include "Liggin", "Caravan", "Senor Blues", "Count Twelve", and "Southern Horizons". Very tasty! LP, Vinyl record album

This mighty quartet always have a fantastically live sound on their studio albums already – but in a concert setting, they seem to bristle even more with spontaneous creative energy – as you'll no doubt discover just a few minutes into the record! As you've no doubt read on these pages, we totally love these guys – and they're one of the most important bands currently setting the London jazz scene on fire – but with a vibe that will also stay strong in our ears for years to come – thanks to a soulful, spirit drenched blend of electric bass, drums, and percussion – all topped with tremendous work on tenor from Idris Rahman – a player whose raspy sense of soul puts him right up there with some of our 70s favorites from the spiritual scene. Yet these guys are never in an easy spiritual mode, either – as the rhythms and progressions are often very fresh, and very much their own – on titles that include "Djinn", "Delusion", "Upstart", "Sunflower", "Nada Brahma", and "Long Way Home". LP, Vinyl record album

A young group, but one who've got some mighty nice energy – a mix of live rhythms on bass and drums, with sweet keyboard lines, saxophone leads, and just a touch of electronics – all in a mode that's got a similar blend of classic styles and contemporary elements as we'd find in work from the London scene of late! Josh Kelly handles the reeds and electronics, and he's got a great balance with the Rhodes and piano of Lewis Moody – both players who find a way to bring plenty of jazz elements to the pulsating, jumping rhythms of Ziggy Zeitgeist on drums and Matt Hayes on bass. Tracks vary in length, which is nice – and the whole thing has a vibe of younger artists who were maybe raised in a more programmed world, then found a way to break out into jazz – on titles that include "Young One", "Seeds", "Jazz Muggle", "Ciggie Chats", "Pender Street", "Much Love", "Jazz Trip", and "Lennie". LP, Vinyl record album

A very different album than the previous effort from drummer/percussionist Saratha Korwar – a lot more political, as you might guess from the title – and a set that has the London musician working with performers from the hip hop scenes in Mumbai and New Delhi! Most of the tunes have a soaring, majestic quality – a similar blend of jazz and global elements that we've heard in Korwar's music – but the additional of lyrics on most numbers really transforms the whole thing, and uses Korwar's strong sonic sensibilities as the backdrop for some very powerful global messages! MCs include Trap Poju, MIrande, Zia Ahmed, Aditya Prakash, Deepak Unnikrishnan, MC Mawali, and Delhi Sultanate – and titles include "Mango", "City Of Words", "Bol", "Pravasis", "Good Ol Vilayati", "Coolie", and "Mumbay". CD

A very different album than the previous effort from drummer/percussionist Saratha Korwar – a lot more political, as you might guess from the title – and a set that has the London musician working with performers from the hip hop scenes in Mumbai and New Delhi! Most of the tunes have a soaring, majestic quality – a similar blend of jazz and global elements that we've heard in Korwar's music – but the additional of lyrics on most numbers really transforms the whole thing, and uses Korwar's strong sonic sensibilities as the backdrop for some very powerful global messages! MCs include Trap Poju, MIrande, Zia Ahmed, Aditya Prakash, Deepak Unnikrishnan, MC Mawali, and Delhi Sultanate – and titles include "Mango", "City Of Words", "Bol", "Pravasis", "Good Ol Vilayati", "Coolie", and "Mumbay". LP, Vinyl record album

(Red vinyl pressing, including the printed inner sleeve. Cover has a small tear at the opening.)

Saxophonist Bukky Leo grew up in Lagos, but has given his talents strongly to the London scene in the past few decades – where he's really made magic in a great criss-crossing of jazz with his Nigerian roots! Part of Bukky's long legacy is an annual tribute to Fela Kuti – and this set captures one of those performances in all its glory – a searing batch of long takes on original Fela tunes, spun out with a horn-heavy group, in a long-jamming style that replicates the best side-long takes of the Africa 70 group. Bukky blows tenor and vocalizes a bit, but the main focus is instrumental – on titles that include "Follow Follow", "Sorrow Tears & Blood", and "Confusion". (Global Grooves, Jazz)LP, Vinyl record album

A record with a soaring spirit from the contemporary London scene – a fantastic full-length statement from Maisha, a group we'd heard about over the years – but are only now getting a chance to enjoy! The group's led by drummer Jake Long, but features this really tremendous work on tenor and flute from Nubya Garcia – who's got a majestic approach that's very much in the best spiritual jazz modes, but which also maybe gets a bit more personal at times too – especially on the passages with flute, which really brings a lyrical beauty to the record – and the group also features guitar, keyboards, bass, and two more percussionists! Long's rhythm progressions are nicely inventive, and very organic – and the sound is fleshed out at times by the slight addition of added strings, harp, and a bit of trumpet – all to underscore the more righteous currents in the music. Really fantastic – one that might knock Kamasi Washington off your turntable – with titles that include "Osiris", "Azure", "Kaa", "There Is A Place", and "Eaglehurst/The Palace". CD

Maybe the crowning achievement of drummer Makaya McCraven so far – a double-length set that stands as a huge testimony to all the many waves he's been making in jazz for the past few years! The album features four slices of live performance – recorded in New York, Chicago, LA, and London – and as with every one of his different projects, Makaya seems to bring a different voice to each live track here – recording with Brandee Younger on harp and Joel Ross on vibes in New York, Shabaka Hutchings on tenor in Chicago; Nubya Garcia on tenor and Ashley Henry on Rhodes in London; and Josh Johnson on alto, Jeff Parker on guitar, Carlos Nino on percussion, and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on violin in LA! The rhythms are as amazing as the contributions from the different soloists – and the sound of the record is maybe something we'd call post-spiritual – moving past that Coltrane-inspired mode that's been revived so well in the 21st Century, while still holding onto its best sense of energy. The whole thing is fantastic – and titles include "The Count Off", "Brighter Days Beginning", "Universal Beings", "Mantra", "Young Genius", "Holy Lands", "Wise Man Wiser Woman", "Prosperity's Fear", "Atlantic Black", "Flipped Out", "Voila", and "Suite Hans". CD

An incredible record from reedman Harold McNair – one of the key Jamaican jazz players who hit the London scene in the same post-colonial wave as Joe Harriott and Shake Keane – and maybe our favorite of the bunch! Harold's a hell of a talent on both tenor and flute – and although he might be best known for his background work on late 60s Donovan albums, he really soars here as a soloist – working with Ornette Coleman group members David Izenzon on bass and Charles Moffett on drums – both of whom swing wonderfully in McNair's company! The album bills Izenzon and Moffett strongly on the cover – as if they're one of the main attractions – but what's most compelling is the way that McNair and pianist Alan Branscombe bring the American musicians into their own sort of groove – a modal, soulful style that's completely sublime – and which makes the album a killer all the way through. Titles include the original "Affectionate Fink" – plus great takes on "I Love You", "O Barquinho", "You Stepped Out Of A Dream", and "Here's That Rainy Day" – all soulful swingers. CD

Great early work from Carmen McRae – small combo, jazzy, and a nicely different set than some of her other work of the 50s! Backings are by two groups – one headed by accordionist Mat Mathews, the other by saxophonist Tony Scott – both quartets, and both of them working with a nicely lean sense of swing that seems to bring the same out of Carmen! The album's not as dark or moody as you might expect from these years – and that's a great thing to us, because it illuminates another side of Carmen's talents that don't always get as much exposure. Titles include "Easy To Love", "If I'm Lucky", "Tip Toe Gently", "Old Devil Moon", "Misery", and "Too Much In Love To Care". CD also features 9 more bonus tracks – including alternates of album tracks by McRae – plus 5 more by Julie London, pulled from the split Bethlehem Girl Friends album! (Vocalists, Jazz)CD

All-star work from the British jazz scene of the post-war years – featuring musicians who'd one that year's poll in Melody Maker magazine, coming together in special large groups for the recordings – similar to American sides inspired by Downbeat and Esquire magazines! The players here criss-cross a bit over the space of three years – to be expected, given both the small size of the London scene, and the strength of these great musicians – and talents include John Dankworth on alto, Ronnie Scott on tenor, Victor Feldman on vibes, Ralph Sharon on piano, Jack Parnell on drums, Ronnie Chamberlin on soprano sax, Kenny Baker and Jimmy Deuchar on trumpets, and Ivor Mairants on guitar. Leaders of the groups are either Dankworth or Parnell – and titles include "Brand's Essence", "Marshall's Plan", "Coronation Jump", "Ballot Box", "Up The Poll", "Leap Year", and "MM Special". The overall vibe is more swing than bop, and a great showcase for all musicians involved! CD

The MJQ always manage to sound especially great when working on music for film – and this album's a great illustration of that fact! The work here is written by John Lewis, for a movie that never lasted the test of time as much as the record – and it's some of John's most evocative writing of the time – almost imagistic enough without the film – filled with tones and colors that are quite visual, especially in the hands of this great group! Selections are played by the core quartet of Milt Jackson on vibes, John Lewis on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Connie Kay on drums – and titles include "The Golden Striker", "One Never Knows", "The Rose Truc", "Venice", "Cortege", and "Three Windows". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic funky set from the Sydney scene of the 60s – one of the coolest, cookingest combos to ever record in Australia at the time – and a group with a mix of mod and soul elements that reminds us of the best organ jazz recorded in London too! The group's led by the mighty Col Nolan – whose handling of the Hammond is wonderful – with lots of cool, compressed tones that work very well with the funky drums of John Sangster – a player that most folks know for his other records that feature vibes instead of drums! Sangster's great here kicking up a groove for the combo – and the tunes also feature plenty of tenor and flute from Col Loughnan, whose tight lines underscore all the best elements in the organ. There's a wonderful 60s nite club vibe running through the whole set – and titles include "Shades Of McSoul", "Sunny", "Blues For Madeline", "Ode To Billie Joe", "Rivera Mountain", and "Whatever It's Worth". CD

A fantastic funky set from the Sydney scene of the 60s – one of the coolest, cookingest combos to ever record in Australia at the time – and a group with a mix of mod and soul elements that reminds us of the best organ jazz recorded in London too! The group's led by the mighty Col Nolan – whose handling of the Hammond is wonderful – with lots of cool, compressed tones that work very well with the funky drums of John Sangster – a player that most folks know for his other records that feature vibes instead of drums! Sangster's great here kicking up a groove for the combo – and the tunes also feature plenty of tenor and flute from Col Loughnan, whose tight lines underscore all the best elements in the organ. There's a wonderful 60s nite club vibe running through the whole set – and titles include "Shades Of McSoul", "Sunny", "Blues For Madeline", "Ode To Billie Joe", "Rivera Mountain", and "Whatever It's Worth". LP, Vinyl record album

The last-ever recording of drumming great Buddy Rich – and a set that we'd put right up there next to his best records of the previous two decades! Buddy's in familiar formation here, but the sound is wonderful – recorded live at Ronnie Scott's nightclub in London, with this mixture of band tightness and solo freedoms that's really striking – all driven by the kind of energy that always made Buddy one of the few folks who could help a larger ensemble continue with vitality into later years! The formation of the whole group is great – that bold, brash, Buddy Rich sound – and soloists include Steve Marcus on tenor, Bob Bowlby on alto, Tom Garling on trombone, Greg Gisbert on trumpet, and Matt Harris on piano – each of whom get some key solo moments on the set. Titles include "Wind Machine", "Night Blood", "Ready Mix", "Winding Way", "Love For Sale", "Just In Time", and "Harco Shuffle". 3LP version features a 31 minute long take of "Good News" – with a very long tenor solo from Steve Marcus! LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic album by this up-and-coming spiritual group from London – an ensemble led by alto saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi, but definitely a unified group effort all the way through! Konishi composed all the music – and a few songs feature words by Langston Hughes – and the rises with a proud, vibrant spirit right from the start – full of bold modal rhythms, and risen to the heavens on a mix of two trumpets, tenor, trombone, and tuba – plus piano, Fender Rhodes, and some mighty nice bass and drums. All tracks are long, and very individual – not slavish spiritual jazz numbers trying to recapture the past – but instead a very bright vision for tomorrow. Titles include "Afronaut", "Wake (For Grenfell)", "Mirrors", "Interplanetary Migration", "The Dreamkeeper", and "The Darkies". CD

A fantastic album by this up-and-coming spiritual group from London – an ensemble led by alto saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi, but definitely a unified group effort all the way through! Konishi composed all the music – and a few songs feature words by Langston Hughes – and the rises with a proud, vibrant spirit right from the start – full of bold modal rhythms, and risen to the heavens on a mix of two trumpets, tenor, trombone, and tuba – plus piano, Fender Rhodes, and some mighty nice bass and drums. All tracks are long, and very individual – not slavish spiritual jazz numbers trying to recapture the past – but instead a very bright vision for tomorrow. Titles include "Afronaut", "Wake (For Grenfell)", "Mirrors", "Interplanetary Migration", "The Dreamkeeper", and "The Darkies". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing album from this soon-to-be-famous group – a set that's even more incredible than their previous record – and that one really knocked us out of the park! Tenorist Shabaka Hutchings is in tremendous territory here – recording for Impulse Records, and completely reinventing the spiritual legacy of that famous label – by taking his roots in South African jazz and fusing them through the boundless imagination of the contemporary London scene – a place where Hutchings has gotten great attention in recent years, and has risen to become one of the most important talents to emerge in recent years. The group features alto, bass, drums, and plenty of percussion – plus vocal moments from Siyabonga Mthembu – all delivered with a righteous current of energy that really lives up to the promise of the title, and which may well make Shabaka an even more important messenger in jazz than Kamasi Washington. Titles include "You've Been Called", "They Who Must Die", "Beast Too Spoke Of Suffering", "Behold The Deceiver", "Til The Freedom Comes Home", "Finally The Man Cried", and "Teach Me How To Be Vulnerable". CD

A brilliant album from Kaidi Tatham – deeper by far than anything we've ever heard from him, and way more than you might expect if you only know his singles from the London scene! This set's got a very strong jazz component – monstrous keyboard work from Kaidi that stretches and soars with the kind of sound you might expect from George Duke on MPS – coupled with some leaner, more rhythmic elements that show Tatham's strong ties to the London scene – yet still in ways that really break from its conventions! There's mostly a great groove to the tracks, but there's also a warmth, depth, and spirituality to the record that's really amazing – the kind of new territory that others have found on the excellent Freedom School label – a place that offers a rare outlet for creative expression in times like these. The whole thing's instrumental, and Kaidi played all instruments himself – mixing acoustic percussion with beats, electric keyboards with piano, and coming across with a sound that's far richer than the sum of its core elements. Titles include "Simiya", "I'm High", "So Amazed", "Swift Inspiration", "In Search Of Hope (part 1)", "Do What You Gotta Do", "On A Vibe", "These Things Will Pass", and "He Laughs She Cries". (New Grooves, Jazz)CD

The greatest album to date from Ken Vandermark's Territory Band – and a record that firmly places the group in a lineage of experimental jazz orchestrations that runs from Duke Ellington through Charles Mingus and the later work of the London Jazz Composers Orchestra! There's a strength here that goes beyond any of the group's earlier efforts – and although some numbers continue their freely improvised moments, others fall into a straighter, even more focused sound – one that's got the boldness of Mingus at its best, with lots of powerful passages that give way to even more personal solo moments. Players include Ken Vandermark, Fredrik Ljungkvist, and Dave Rempis on reeds; Axel Dorner on trumpet, Johannes Bauer on trombone, Paul Lytton and Paal Nilssen-Love on percussion, Jim Baker on piano, Kent Kessler on bass, and Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello. 3CD set features 2 studio discs and 1 live radio performance – with titles that include "Fall With A Vengeance", "Untitled Fiction", "Corrosion", "Cards", and live performances of all numbers on disc 3. CD

A great little record that continues the Chicago/London meeting that was begun in the Makaya McCraven album Where We Come From – a limited single with two collaborative grooves on each side! Emma-Jean Thackray serves up "Too Shy" on side one – a skittish blend of jazz elements, keyboards, and some soaring soulful vocals! Side two features a Gilles Peterson edit of the track "Run Dem" – which has plenty of hefty drums, plus musical contributions from Joe Armon-Jones, Theon Cross, and Soweto Kinch! 12-inch, Vinyl record

We really loved Nick Walters the last time around, and on this set the trumpeter seems to be even more visionary than before – really going for this expansive approach to his music, and serving things up with a vibe that maybe makes him one of the most spiritual leaders on the contemporary London scene! The tracks here are all originals, and work together perfectly as a whole album – with Nick setting things up strongly with his own trumpet at the start, then folding in these beautiful contributions from Ed Cawthorne on flute and soprano sax, Jeff Guntren on tenor, Rebecca Nash on piano, Nim Sadot on bass, Max Hallett on drums, and Joseph Deenmamoode on percussion. Some tunes have a modal rhythm, but others get a bit more complex, although still with a similar organic pulse – and titles include "So Long Chef", "Gordian Knot (parts 1 & 2)", "Dansoman Last Stop", and "Ahimsa". CD

Fantastic work from two different years of this important German Jazz Festival – material that provides a great live complement to some of the best studio jazz recordings of the late 60s European scene – such as those coming from the MPS label, and some of the record companies in Paris and London! The vibe here is mostly straight, but there are plenty of currents of modern, and maybe just a bit of free – and the set's especially great in illustrating the sort of unique groupings and musical moments that can make the jazz festival scene so rewarding! Material from 1967 includes three long tracks by the group of saxophonist Klaus Doldinger with organist Ingfried Hoffmann; a long performance from a big band led by Kurt Edelhagen, with work from trumpeters Shake Keane and Jimmy Deuchar, tenorists Wilton Gaynair and Karl Drewo, and altoist Derek Humble; four tracks by a quartet led by trumpeter Dusko Goykovich, with Bent Jaedig on tenor; two long improvisations from a group that features Manfred Schoof on trumpet, Gerd Dudek on tenor, Alexander Von Schlippenbach on piano, and Jaki Liebezeit on drums; one track by a quartet with Ted Curson on trumpet and Nick Bridnola on soprano sax; four long cuts by the Clarke Boland Sextet, with Sahib Shihab on flute and baritone, Ake Persson on trombone, and Idrees Sulieman on trumpet; a sweet large group led by organist Ingfried Hoffmann, and a few other hip cuts too. 1968 features work by a sextet led by bassist Peter Trunk, with Shake Keane on flugelhorn, Jiggs Whigham on trombone, and Rob Pronk on piano; four tracks by the Clarke Boland Big Band, with Johnny Griffin and Ronnie Scott on tenor, and Sahib Shihab on baritone; two cuts by the twin tenor group of Hank Mobley and Johnny Griffin; a vocal performance by Jon Hendricks with a Clarke Boland group with Johnny Griffin in the lead; twin trombones from the Slide Hampton and Ake Persson Quintet; hip work from the trio of pianist George Gruntz, bassist Henri Texier, and drummer Daniel Humair; a number of tight tracks from the Maynard Ferguson big band, with Pete King on tenor; and two shorter trio tracks from Joachim Kuhn. Like other Be Music titles, the presentation is great – a really well-done box, and big booklet of notes and images. CD

Don't take the "keep it light" title too seriously – as the work here is pretty darn heavy overall – a massive look at the way the British jazz scene was rapidly changing with the approach of the 60s – and finally starting to get a voice of its own! The big package takes a look at the best smaller groups and standout soloists of the time – many of whom have clearly been inspired by American modern jazz, from California cool to New York hardbop – but who are also bringing plenty of their own inventive phrasing and arrangements to bear as well – so much so that the London scene was exploding with new surprises at every twist and turn! This 3CD box set features a total of 62 tracks in all – plus a nice booklet of notes – with wonderful work from artists who include Joe Harriott, Dudley Moore, Victor Feldman, Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Scott, Annie Ross, Don Rendell, British Jazz Trio, London Jazz Quartet, Dizzy Reece, Cleo Laine, Tony Crombie, Ronnie Ross, and others. CD

The title says "jazz", but there's a lot more going on here – a range of groundbreaking sounds and styles from the 70s, with some sweet electric modes, occasional Latin rhythms, currents of soul, and even a bit of Brazilian too! The package really takes us back to the kind of rare tracks we first started digging decades ago – when collectors from London and Tokyo were really helping us appreciate the kinds of records we might have passed by in the racks – the lesser names, the smaller labels, and even the more globally expansive range of releases that could sometimes be missed if you were only digging for American jazz! That range of music is really represented here in a great way – with tunes that soar strongly and bristle with energy throughout – sometimes in modes that might echo a label like MPS or Strata East, but often in very unique styles of their own. Titles include "Maryke" by John Thomas & Lifeforce, "La Em Guayaquil" by Banda Metalurgia, "Samba For A Cold Warrior" by Belair, "Samba De Amor" by Francisco Mora Catlett, "Little Sunflower" by Louis Hayes with Leon Thomas, "The World Is A Ghetto" by Lee Willhite, "No Other Love But You" by Clarice Labbe & Charlie Hampton, "Misturada" by Finn Savery Trio, "Kingdom Within You" by Ira Sullivan, and "Latinetta" by Ronald Snijders. (Funky Compilations, Jazz)CD

An overdue look at the great range of sounds that came from Inner City Records at the end of the 70s – a hip American indie with a strong specialty in soulful fusion, hip vocalists, and a range of other great styles too – all brought together here by London DJ Kev Beadle! Inner City's often a bit overlooked – as the label flourished most strongly in the years after some of the better-known soulful imprints of the 70s – and the label always had a great ear for new sounds, fresh ideas, and the kind of compelling global elements that often led them to license key tracks from overseas, and bring them to the US market. This collection's heavy on singers – the kind of cool, underground jazz vocalists that Inner City captured so well – and it's also got a nice mix of funky fusion, modal numbers, and spiritual currents – on titles that include "The Other World" by Judy Roberts, "Hunt Up Wind" by Hiroshi Fukumura, "Vera Cruz" by Helen Merrill, "Lucky Southern" by Tom Lellis, "Quickie Nirvana" by Kellis Ethridge, "Samba De La Cruz" by Terumasa Hino, "So High" by Janet Lawson, "The Samba" by Jeff Lorber, "Return Of The Prodigal Son" by Joe Lee Wilson, "Shenkansen" by Urszula Dudziak, "To An Elfin Princess" by Charlie Mariano, "Pandora" by Carlos Franzetti, and "Jennine" by Eddie Jefferson. (Funky Compilations, Jazz)CD

The Mojo Club posse is at it again – turning out a sublime set of older groovers – a brilliant collection of classic soul, funk, jazz, and Latin cuts! The set's one of the most soulful in the Mojo series, and like the rest, it's filled with obscure gems that you might have passed by over the years – not only rare cuts from singles, but a number of great tunes that have lain hidden on 70s albums that were otherwise worth passing over. Titles include "Strung Out" by Gordon Staples & The String Thing, "Tema Pro Luis" by Rosinha De Valenca, "State Of Mind" by Puzzle, "That's What You Say" by Gloria Scott, "The Woo Pee" by Sugarpie De Santo, "Ooh Ooh The Dragon" by Marvin Holmes, "He's My Sunny Boy" by Diana Ross & The Supremes, "Things We Said Today" by London Jazz Four, "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" by Rose Royce, "I Wouldn't Change A Thing" by Coke Escovedo, "Boss Tres Bien" by Quartette Tres Bien, "Barra Limpa" by Oscar Brown Jr, "Lady Rain" by Lexia, "Elephant's Trunk" by Steve Pepper & Sir Shree, and "Mabusso" by Ambros Seelos. 20 tracks in all! (Funky Compilations, Jazz)CD

A great little compilation – and one that really makes us want to hear a lot lot more from all the artists in the lineup! Think of this one as a bit like some of the excellent Brownswood compilations that have hipped us to changes on the London scene during the past few years – as this package showcases an amazing array of music that's been coming out of the Melbourne scene – artists who are heavy on influences from spiritual jazz, cosmic soul, and other mind-expanding modes – really moving past some of the simpler soul and funk we might have heard from the city in the previous decade! The scope of music here is really great, and there's not a dead cut in the bunch – just the kind of tip-of-the-iceberg sounds that makes us hope that Plug Seven will be giving us a lot more of these artists in years to come. Titles include "For Yu Sakamoto" by James Macaulay Quartet, "Waiting" by Jazz Party, "Improvisation #2" by Greg Vinod Perrin, "Dempsey Roll" by Superfeather, "Women's Choir" by Godtet, "Everything I Need" by Daniel Merriwesther, "Sooki The Love Dog" by Laneous, "Sweet Water" by Barney McAll, "True Realm Of The Coin" by The Rookies, and "Work" by Moses McRae with Crooked Letter. (Deep Funk, Jazz)LP, Vinyl record album

An assortment of work from the contemporary Dutch scene – music that's partly jazz, but which also has lots of 21st Century elements too – although never in a way that falls into any sort of too-easy remix of downtempo modes! Most of these artists use a fair bit of electric instrumentation – usually keyboards, but sometimes drum programs and other – occasionally with modes that seem to take off from the London broken beat generation, but more often in creative, individual styles that really stand out. Titles include "2077" by Legove, "Visions" by Duke Hugh, "Amazone" by Djosa, "Lucid" by Glenn Gadum, "Underdog" by Yannick Hiwat, "Nature Boy" by Ranie Ribeiro, "Dragon King" by Son Swagga, "Evolution Of The New Spirit" by Liquid Spirits, "Before The Fight" by Greyheads, "Town" by Dominic J Marshall, "Nothing Lasts" by Planty Herbs, and "Deo Volente" by Reiner Baas & Ben Van Gelder. (New Grooves, Jazz)LP, Vinyl record album

A spacious second set from British/Bahraini trumpeter Yazz Ahmed – a record that features dedications to feminist inspirations on every single track – but which has a soaring, righteous quality that marks Ahmed as an inspirational force of her own! The songs are long, and the music is rich in textural elements – strong trumpet solos from the leader, but also a globe's worth of contributions from other members of the contemporary London scene in which Ahmed's been making waves for the past few years – with a level of expression that maybe matches some of our favorite recent jazz releases on the Brownswood label! If you know the charms of the London scene in recent years, you'll have plenty to love here – and will find yourself adding Yazz to a list of artists to keep your ears on. And if you don't, this album's a great place to begin your musical discovery – on titles that include "Ruby Bridges", "Barbara", "Lahan Al-Mansour", "One Girl Among Many", and "Deeds Not Words". CD

A very cool record – one that's billed as "jazz, but not as you know it" – which is no surprise, given that trumpeter Antoine Berjeaut is working very closely with Makaya McCraven! Makaya plays drums in the group, and also produced the record – emphasizing some of the sharp edges in the rhythms, and fast changes in tone and color – supplied strongly by Antoine's trumpet, in a lineup that also features McCraven's labelmate Junius Paul on bass, plus Julien Lourau on tenor, Guillaume Magne on guitar, Lorenzo Bianchi Hoesch on live electronics, and Arnaud Roulin on keyboards – all working together with the Chicago contingent in some fantastic transatlantic energy that matches some of McCraven's music with the London scene. Titles include "Sci-Fi", "Lourau's Loop", "Down The Clipper", "Shadows", "Triple A", and "JP's Beats". LP, Vinyl record album

Early recordings by Dollar Brand – recorded in London in 1965, playing solo on a batch of tunes dedicated to two big influences – Duke Ellington and Randy Weston – and also featuring a number of his own compositions. Titles include "Pye R Squared", "Knights Night", "Mood Indigo", "On The Banks Of Allen Waters", "Little Niles", and "Resolution". LP, Vinyl record album

Compelling duets between guitarists Larry Coryell and Philip Catherine – a studio album recorded in London, hot on the heels of their performance together at the Berliner Jazztage! Although known for their electric musings at the time, both players work here mostly in an acoustic mode – creating beautifully intimate interplay without any other instrumentation at all – in ways that are mostly jazzy, but which also echo the evolution of the guitar during the decade in other genres as well. Titles include "Ms Julie", "Home Comings", "Airpower", "Twin House", "Mortgage On Your Soul", and "Gloryell". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the first album we've ever heard from guitarist Karl Evangelista as a leader – and a set that marks a very strong statement, right from the very first note! The set is done in tribute to an older British generation of free jazz – the period which included The Blue Notes and Spontaneous Music Ensemble – and, as part of that effort, the whole thing was recorded in London, by Benedic Lamdin, with a group that features Louis Moholo Moholo on drums, Trevor Watts on alto and soprano, and Alexander Hawkins on piano! While the two older British jazz giants are a very welcome presence, some of the album's most compelling sounds might well come from the mix of Evangelista's guitar and Hawkins' piano – both instruments that have a very compelling way of making sharp sounds together, really finding the right pace and tone, with a sense of sympathy that really makes the album shine. There's a heck of a lot of music on the double-length set – and titles include "FDT", "Siyanga Pala", "I Eat Death For Breakfast", "Totoo Yan", "State Of Emergency", "Consummatum Est", "Warriors", and "Player Piano". CD

The Art Ensemble team of Jarman and Moye join with South African bass legend Johnny Dyani in this fantastic set of tracks that's easily some of the best work any of the players recorded during the 70s! The album's got all the free interplay of the classic Art Ensemble work, with some of the edge that Dyani and fellow Blue Notes were bringing to their work in London during the early 70s – wrapped up in a spirituality that unifies the disparate instrumentation and moods of the records. Titles include "Ginger Song", "Black Paladins", "Ode to Wilbur Ware", and "Mama Marimba" – as well as a great reworking of Kalaparusha's "Humility In The Light Of The Creator". LP, Vinyl record album

(Cover has light wear and aging, bumped corner, and small tears in the opening.)

A pair of late 60s gems from guitarist Barney Kessel – both of which came from the same string of sessions! First up is Blue Soul – a very groovy set from guitarist Barney Kessel – very different than some of his cleaner, smoother-toned work of the 50s! The album was partly recorded in London, and partly recorded in LA – and there's a really nice mix of modes going on, which includes strong use of organ at times – bringing a soul jazz vibe to the record, which Barney seems to match with an extra sort of rasp in his strings – this nice bite that really sets the record apart from some of his others! There's also great use of electric bass, very strong at a few points, with a nice kick in the rhythms that's kind of unexpected for a record from Kessel – as you'll groove to on titles that include "Blue Soul", "Stumblin Around", "Comin Home", "Quail Bait", "Shufflin", and "Frank Mills". Swinging Easy is really nice work from guitarist Barney Kessel – one of his overlooked late 60s sessions from a time when the musician was really opening up his sound! Barney's working with a British trio here – John Marshall on drums and Kenny Napper on bass – and there's a nice sense of tone that carries forward his 50s modes, but which also maybe has a bit more of a bite, too. The mix is a great one, and titles include "On A Clear Day", "The Look Of Love", "Corcovado", "Aquarius", "Watch The Birds Go By", and "I Will Wait For You". CD

A fantastic entry into the improvising orchestra genre – a set that's similar to classics by ICP and London Jazz Composers Orchestra – and which also features a bit of crossover in members with both groups! The lineup here features the cream of the crop of the European avant scene of the late 70s – all brought together with that special care that always makes Horo Records albums so wonderful! There's a beautiful balance between group sounds and individual solo voices – very important, given that the strong lineup features musicians who includes Roswell Rudd and Danilo Terenzi on trombone, Kenny Wheeler and Enrico Rava on trumpets, Steve Potts on alto and soprano, Evan Parker on tenor and soprano, Steve Lacy on soprano, Massimo Urbani on alto, Frederik Rzewski and Martin Joseph on pianos, Tristan Honsinger and Irene Aebi on cellos, Kent Carter and Roberto Bellatalla on bass, Paul Lytton on drums and percussion, and Noel McGhee and Roberto Gatto on drums. Phew – that's a long list, and if you know the names at all, you'll know the tremendous sense of creativity that goes into the record – on long improvised tracks that include "Tromblues", "La Quercia", "Vortex Waltz", "The Message From The Maine", and "Dialogando". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the crowning achievement of drummer Makaya McCraven so far – a double-length set that stands as a huge testimony to all the many waves he's been making in jazz for the past few years! The album features four slices of live performance – recorded in New York, Chicago, LA, and London – and as with every one of his different projects, Makaya seems to bring a different voice to each live track here – recording with Brandee Younger on harp and Joel Ross on vibes in New York, Shabaka Hutchings on tenor in Chicago; Nubya Garcia on tenor and Ashley Henry on Rhodes in London; and Josh Johnson on alto, Jeff Parker on guitar, Carlos Nino on percussion, and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on violin in LA! The rhythms are as amazing as the contributions from the different soloists – and the sound of the record is maybe something we'd call post-spiritual – moving past that Coltrane-inspired mode that's been revived so well in the 21st Century, while still holding onto its best sense of energy. The whole thing is fantastic – and titles include "The Count Off", "Brighter Days Beginning", "Universal Beings", "Mantra", "Young Genius", "Holy Lands", "Wise Man Wiser Woman", "Prosperity's Fear", "Atlantic Black", "Flipped Out", "Voila", and "Suite Hans". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent Houston Person set from the late 60s – and a record that's unlike any other that he did at the time! The groove here is a bit less funky, and a bit more conceptual – kind of a soaring vibe that's still quite soulful, but in less of the stock soul jazz mode that Person was hitting – if that makes any sense! There's almost a modal energy at points – a bit like the sounds coming from Hank Mobley or Lee Morgan in the late 60s – and the group features Cedar Walton on piano, who also arranged the set – so the unusual flavor is definitely one that he brings into play. Other players include Pepper Adams on baritone, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Frankie Jones on drums – and titles include "Blue Odyssey", "I Love You Yes I Do "Holy Land", "Starrburst", and "Funky London". LP, Vinyl record album

(Green label pressing. Cover has a cutout notch, some edge wear, and a small split in the top seam.)

Kind of a companion to the better-known Sound Of The Trio set recorded at London House – an album that features more material from that date, but issued here without the indication of a live album. The style is still as great as before, though – really cooking work from the classic early 60s combo that featured Peterson on keys, Ray Brown on bass, and Ed Thigpen on drums. Titles include "Put On A Happy Face", "Old Folks", "Woody'N You", "Yesterdays", "Diablo", "Soon", and "The Lonesome One". LP, Vinyl record album

(MGM pressing with deep groove. Cover has a cutout hole, light wear, and a small split in the top seam.)

Ruby Rushton is the name of the group, not an individual member – and it's also a name that's sure to be at the top of your list once you hear this incredible debut! The album's got this fantastic blend of funky and spiritual grooves – all played with a quality that's soulful, but effortless – almost vintage, but never trying to sound forced or copycat at all – just this easy-flowing groove that's incredible, and which kind of gives the record an instant classic sound from the very first note! Edward Cawthorne is the ersatz leader – as he wrote and arranged the whole set – but his work on flute and saxes is just one part of the album's wonderful groove, which also includes trumpet from Nick Walters, keyboards from Aidan Shepherd, bass from Fergus Ireland, drums from Eddie Hick, and percussion from Joseph Deenmamode – a lineup who seem to be tied together in soul and spirit right from the start. The London-based group are rock-solid throughout – hitting territory that's maybe more soulful than some of the spiritual currents of the Gondwana Records scene a few years before, but with an equal sort of depth. Titles include "Trudi's Mood", "Moonlight Woman", "Prayer For Yusef", "Where Are You Now", "Elephant & Castle", and "The Camel's Back". LP, Vinyl record album

Soaring sounds from Kaidi Tatham – music that's upbeat and moving, yet wonderfully precise in its simplicity too! Kaidi works in this cosmic fusion style that owes plenty to the London style a decade or so back – but it also moves forward with a lot more live instrumentation in the mix, maybe the full flowering of the deeper jazz elements we always knew that Tatham had in his music! Keyboards are the main solo instrument, but there's plenty happening in the rhythms too – always complex, but never too heady – on titles that include "Cost Of Living", "Zallom", "Sugar", and "Don't Cry Now". (New Grooves, Jazz)LP, Vinyl record album

Nice one! BBE once again checks in with an indespensible collection of great rare grooves, this time put together by London DJs Keb Darge and Bob Jones, both of whom have selected cuts for some of the label's other great comps. There's a few cuts on here that you may have elsewhere, but the bulk of the material is totally fresh, and has a tight jazzy groove that's a nice counterpoint to the label's other funk comps. Titles include "Mandingo" by Deacon Witherspoon, "Bossa Blue Port" by Birds Of Paradise, "Night Of The Wolf" by Al Foster Band, "Yolk" by Family Soul, "Ooh Cha La La" by Fabulous Preston Combo, "Opus Three" by Earl Washington, "Cosbyianna" by Fat Albert Orchestra, "Abscretions" by Music Inc, and "Billy's Ballet" by Bishop Norman Williams. Great music, great package, and another totally solid comp from BBE! (Funky Compilations, Jazz)CD

(Out of print.)

97

Various —
We Out Here ... LPBrownswood (UK), 2018. New Copy 2LP Gatefold ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock

London is exploding again with fantastic music – and this time around, it's the city's jazz underground that comes forward to remind us what a unique musical crossroads the city can be! The work here represents an incredible new scene that's pushing boundaries all over again – not the avant jazz of London improvisers, nor the electric sounds of the broken beat world, or retro funk of another scene – but fantastic acoustic jazz that at one level brings back deeper spiritual sounds from generations back, but at another flings forward its sounds with inspiration that will be setting the standard for years to come. We've only had a few of these artists on record before, and together they work beautifully as a strong new proclamation of talent – on titles that include "Once" by Nubya Garcia, "Inside The Acorn" by Maisha, "Pure Shade" by Ezra Collective, "The Balance" by Moses Boyd, "Brockley" by Theon Cross, "Walls" by Triforce, "Black Skin Black Masks" by Shabaka Hutchings, "Go See" by Joe Armon Jones, and "Abusey Junction" by Kokoroko. (Funky Compilations, Jazz)LP, Vinyl record album

Joe Armon Jones sings and plays lots of cool Wurlitzer electric piano on this gem of an album – but the whole thing is maybe even more of a tribute to the warmly collaborative spirit of the contemporary London scene, as it is to the talents of the man himself! There's a nicely fluid sense of stardom here – as differing artists get their time to shine in the spotlight while others recede a bit from track to track – but not in the kind of "leader with guests" version of older soundsystem albums – and instead maybe more as a cosmic vision for the future. Other singers include Asheber, Big Sharer, Ego Ella May, and Oscar Jerome – and musicians include Dylan Jones on trumpet, Moses Boyd on drums, and Nubya Garcia and James Mollison on tenor. Titles include "Starting Today", "Almost Went Too Far", "London's Face", "Ragify", "Outro", and "Mollison Dub". LP, Vinyl record album

A great couple of harder-to-find Ornette Coleman records – nicely paired up in a 2CD set! First up is The Music Of Ornette Coleman, from 1967 – which is beautiful record that serves as both a showcase for Ornette's "serious" writing efforts – and his ability to play with a larger ensemble! It kicks off with Ornette playing trumpet solos with The Philadelphia Woodwind Quintet as they perform his "Forms & Sounds" live. That's followed by recordings of Ornette's "Space Flight" and "Saints & Soldiers" performed by The Chamber Symphony of Philadelphia Quartet, a string ensemble that brings a new light to Ornette's compositions! Skies Of America is an ambitious record with full orchestra, in a haunting sound that's light years from any of his smaller group recordings of the 60s and 70s! There's an incredible feel to the strings used here – played by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Measham – all tied up and dark, with swirling sounds that run up beautifully from the bottom, then take off to the skies promised in the title – opening the door for Ornette to come in and solo freely over the top – in a magical mix that easily makes the record a standout in his long and mighty career! Harmolodic theory is definitely a part of Coleman's conception here – but in very different ways than his quartet or quintet recordings. Lots of tracks on this one, including "Skies Of America", "The Men Who Live In The White House", "Sunday In America", "Dreams", "Native Americans", "Silver Screen", "The Artist In America" and more. CD

A fantastic blend of spiritual jazz styles and electronic elements – served up here by the trio of drummer Betamax, keyboardist Danalogue, and saxophonist King Shabaka – the last of whom you might recognize as Shabaka Hutchings from a host of other hip projects on the contemporary London scene! Shabaka's work on tenor and bass clarinet really gives the record an earthy, organic core – which seems to let the keyboards really soar off into space, often with the sort of vibe that you'd guess from the group's name and the cover image on the record – in a wide flurry of live and amplified performance elements! At some level, the trio is almost London's answer to some of the jazz-meets-studio work from Chicago's International Anthem label – and like some of the groups who record for that imprint, these guys are all strong jazz musicians at the core – but performing at a level that's very beyond the ordinary. Titles include "Birth Of Creation", "Summon The Fire", "Blood Of The Past", "Astral Flying", "Super Zodiac", "The Universe Wakes Up", and "Timewave Zero". LP, Vinyl record album